The Land Claim — page 76: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

72 THE LAND-CLAIM. CHAPTER X. THE MYSTERY CLEARING AWAY. “ How-py ?’* exclaimed Flag, bursting into AlHen’s office that afternoon, and finding the young lawyer with his face buried in his hands, and his elbows on the table before him. “Why, Squire, old fellow, what’s the matter with you? This is the first time I ever saw you down in the mouth in this way. Are you sick, or out of business, or in* love, or what's. the matter ?” “ How are you, Flag? I’m prodigiously glad to see you,” said Allen, shaking hands, but not looking particularly ani- mated. “ When did you get in?” “Half an hour ago. Had the greatest time! Been away over on the Elkhorn, and out on the Platte. Glorious country, I tell you!” : “Did you find any place you liked better than this?” “Oh, I don’t know; I like to be near the river, where I can hear a steamboat whistle once in a while. How do those Irishmen get along on,our claim ?” “Well enough, I guéss. I don’t look after them much. Have you seen Ed while you were gone?” “Nary an Ed. It’s an interesting case of mysterious disap- pearance. It’s six weeks, nearly, since Ed went away? I think we ought to inquire into the matter.” “T have been inquiring into the matter,” returned Allen, “and I’ve found out what I suspected to be true. What would you say if I should tell you Ed is a horse-thief?” Flag was so confounded that'he said nothing, but only stared at Allen in silent amazement for fuli two minutes, “Gods!” he ejaculated at last; “to think that we har- bored such a fellow. Why, what an accomplished villain he was!” “ Every villain, to be successful, must have talent and self- possession,” replied Allen, “and he had both. Only once 1 caught him off his guard.” * Omaha for “* How do you do?” connicbooks.conn